Brandon Marshall is on the market. If anybody wants an experienced pro with 100-catch seasons for three different teams, he’s available. But I don’t think Marshall is an “elite” wide receiver anymore.
Marshall has never been fast, and as he turns 33 in a few weeks, separation is now more of an issue for him. He can’t run by people anymore. He has to rely on being physical and using his big body.
I see him as a better version of Anquan Boldin – working the middle of the field and boxing out smaller defensive backs. He’s better suited to be a solid No. 2, rather than the receiver an offense is built around.
Mentally, Marshall is way ahead of where he was at early in his career, when he was consistently plagued by off-field issues. He was suspended three games in 2008 after drunk-driving chargers and a domestic violence arrest. Now he’s evolved into a team leader.
Marshall doesn’t have great hands. Most of his catches now are more of the contested variety, and those are more prone to get knocked away or tipped. And he’ll simply drop some. Over the last three years, 42 wide receivers have had the opportunity to catch at least 150 passes, and off that group, Marshall has the 2nd-worst drop rate.
He comes in ahead of only Michael Crabtree, who’s a similar kind of receiver. I see Pierre Garcon, Keenan Allen and Larry Fitzgerald as three other receivers of this ilk – bigger, slower guys – and Marshall has oddly dropped over twice as many passes as those three guys combined.
| WIDE RECEIVER DROPS (2014-2016) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Rec | Drop | Pct |
| 1. | Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 219 | 2 | .9% |
| 2. | Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 256 | 3 | 1.2% |
| 3. | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 150 | 2 | 1.3% |
| 4. | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 279 | 4 | 1.4% |
| 5. | Jeremy Maclin, Phi.-K.C. | 216 | 5 | 2.3% |
| 6. | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 371 | 9 | 2.4% |
| 7. | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 238 | 6 | 2.5% |
| 8. | Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 215 | 6 | 2.7% |
| 9. | Cole Beasley, Dall. | 164 | 5 | 3.0% |
| 10. | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 195 | 6 | 3.0% |
| 11. | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 288 | 9 | 3.0% |
| 12. | Golden Tate, Det. | 280 | 9 | 3.1% |
| 13. | A.J. Green, Cin. | 221 | 8 | 3.5% |
| 14. | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 265 | 11 | 4.0% |
| 15. | Eric Decker, NYJ | 163 | 7 | 4.1% |
| 16. | Julio Jones, Atl. | 323 | 14 | 4.2% |
| 17. | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 159 | 7 | 4.2% |
| 18. | Allen Robinson, Jac. | 201 | 9 | 4.3% |
| 19. | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 288 | 13 | 4.3% |
| 20. | Brandon LaFell, N.E.-Cin. | 175 | 9 | 4.9% |
| 21. | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 230 | 12 | 5.0% |
| 22. | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 191 | 10 | 5.0% |
| 23. | Kenny Britt, Rams | 152 | 8 | 5.0% |
| 24. | John Brown, Ariz. | 152 | 8 | 5.0% |
| 25. | Robert Woods, Buff. | 163 | 9 | 5.2% |
| 26. | Mike Wallace, 3 tms | 178 | 10 | 5.3% |
| 27. | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 242 | 14 | 5.5% |
| 28. | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 153 | 9 | 5.6% |
| 29. | Anquan Boldin, S.F.-Det. | 219 | 13 | 5.6% |
| 30. | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 169 | 11 | 6.1% |
| 31. | Mohamed Sanu, Cin.-Atl. | 148 | 10 | 6.3% |
| 32. | Steve Smith Sr., Balt. | 195 | 14 | 6.7% |
| 33. | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 225 | 17 | 7.0% |
| 34. | Davante Adams, G.B. | 163 | 13 | 7.4% |
| 35. | Julian Edelman, N.E. | 251 | 21 | 7.7% |
| 36. | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 155 | 13 | 7.7% |
| 37. | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 306 | 26 | 7.8% |
| 38. | Tavon Austin, Rams | 141 | 13 | 8.4% |
| 39. | Mike Evans, T.B. | 238 | 22 | 8.5% |
| 40. | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 150 | 14 | 8.5% |
| 41. | Brandon Marshall, Chi.-NYJ | 229 | 22 | 8.8% |
| 42. | Michael Crabtree, S.F.-Oak. | 242 | 24 | 9.0% |
—Ian Allan